manynovel Chapter 136
Chapter 136
Aarons is not a selfish person without a sense of national honor, and he also understands the simple truth that power comes with responsibility.
But he still felt unhappy - not because he wanted to resist this righteousness, but because he noticed the selfish desires mixed in with the other party.
"We will certainly take care of the feelings of Her Royal Highness the Princess, and will not force her to choose someone she doesn't like. So Marquis, we hope that you can give up the engagement on your own initiative before His Majesty officially issues an edict, and give Her Royal Highness a chance to choose again."
"... Has His Majesty decided?"
"Your Majesty will definitely do so, because this time, the three dukes have the same opinion."
Armand IV almost lost the throne because his power was taken away by the great nobles.
When Lingqing Wushen brought Armand V back to the court to ascend the throne, he just kept the orthodoxy of the royal family. The three dukes and several marquises still control huge fiefdoms and firmly control the grain and mineral output of the empire.
After Armand VII ascended the throne, the war on the southwest border was completely pacified by a young rising star, breaking the balance of aristocratic power.
But now... the marquis only left an heir without any power.
"What will happen if I don't agree?"
"The marquis is a smart man and should not do such a profitless thing. I don't think the people in the marquis's family want the marquis to get into trouble outside."
This is completely a threat - if I don't agree to cancel the engagement, not only myself, but also my family members may become the object of involvement.
And the three dukes are still suspected of murdering the old marquis. Even if I really compromise here, I may not be able to live a peaceful life afterwards.
"Marquis, although we are more or less selfish in this matter, the purpose is ultimately for the stability and peace of the country."
Seemingly realizing that it was not polite to threaten others like this, the elegant man touched his beard with an uneasy look, and then turned around and made a cup of tea for Aarons himself.
——But Aarons did not take the cup of tea.
"It is because we have always abided by such rules that the empire can maintain the existing peace and order."
"You mean, it is the rules that require me and Her Royal Highness the Princess to make necessary sacrifices?"
"Marquis, do you know what kind of problems the empire is facing now?"
Aarons is not very clear about other regions, and most of the spiritual news programs are good news, not bad news, and it is difficult to see any news of internal and external troubles.
"Five years ago, the Sunset Kingdom in the south of the empire cleared all the surrounding forces and established a large country with a tendency to military expansion. Since then, they have been trying to seize the land of the empire."
"I heard that His Royal Highness the Second Prince has been in charge there for a long time. Is there any problem?"
"Although there was no big problem at the beginning, the opponent's strength has been getting stronger in the past two years, forcing the empire to transfer most of its warships to the south. At this time, if the Cadians suddenly invade here, the empire is likely to fall into the quagmire of fighting on two fronts."
The airship is indeed a powerful weapon, but it is not invincible.
Since most of the main structure is actually wood and light metal processed by alchemy, the defense of the airship is not as strong as imagined. If it is attacked by a powerful magic attack released by a fixed array, it may be severely damaged or sunk.
"The three dukes have contributed a lot of resources to maintain the stability of the border. But even so, the empire may still go to war with its neighbors at any time."
In this matter, the nobles do have a reputation for righteousness.
Although the nobles only have their eyes on the princess's bloodline, it is indeed a loss for the empire as a whole to let a princess with excellent talents marry an incompetent noble.
"Marquis, you should understand that compared with the interests of the empire, just choosing a new fiancé for Her Royal Highness is really a sacrifice?"
If it were Aarons before, he might really retreat and compromise here.
But the soul that came here from another world is very clear about the hidden trap.
"I admit that what you said does make sense, but can I ask one last question?"
"Please go ahead, Marquis."
"--If Her Royal Highness the Princess is just an ordinary person, will the rules and order you just mentioned be destroyed?"
After hearing Aarons' unexpected question, the elegant man was stunned for a moment, and then his face quickly turned gloomy.
This is the flaw in this question.
The other party is actually using something similar to an electricHe used the form of a car problem to morally kidnap Aarons - he put the princess's engagement and the interests of the empire on two tracks, inducing Aarons to choose to sacrifice one of them.
But in fact, there is no direct connection between the two.
"Even without Her Royal Highness, the empire can still operate stably, right? Her Royal Highness has been missing for nearly ten years, and the empire has not had any problems."
Neither the interests of the empire nor the princess's engagement are tied to the rails. So Aarons doesn't need to choose which side to sacrifice, he can have both.
"So what I want to know is, are the rules and order you just mentioned really related to who Her Royal Highness is going to marry?"
"Marquis, I think you got one thing wrong from the beginning."
Unexpectedly, the elegant man quickly adjusted his mood, as if the gloomy expression just now was just an illusion of Aarons.
But what he said afterwards was not so gentle.
"It is because we abide by these rules that I can discuss this matter with you in a friendly manner. And it is because you are protected by the rules that you can live and get the title of Marquis."
"--Because all nobles must abide by this rule, the empire will have stability and order."
"And now you are questioning this rule that protects you, and even want to resist... Do you know what the consequences of breaking the rules are?"
Protection? Killing the old marquis and his genius young son, leaving only the incompetent young master alive, can this be called protection by rules?
Aarens has seen through the nobles' high-sounding moral kidnapping, so he also showed a disdainful smile on his face.
"I am an incompetent waste, and I don't really understand the kind of rules you are talking about, but since you are going to snatch something important from me, I will give you a reply."
-As he spoke, Aarons turned around without courtesy and nodded to the "servant" who had been standing by the door.
"If you want it, you have to come and get it yourself. You already know the rules."
After saying this line that made his past life memorable, Aarons walked towards the door without hesitation.
"... Marquis, you'd better remember that the reason you can still live and say these words is because we still respect the rules."
"Then I have to thank you? Thank you so much. Goodbye."
"Hmph, don't be too happy too soon. I think Her Royal Highness the Princess will know how to weigh the pros and cons better than you after listening to our advice."
-This is probably unnecessary, after all, she has already heard it here once.